BibMates

ABSTRACT

The new bib design is a system in which the bib does not fasten around the child&#39;s neck to reduce the likelihood of injury. The collar flaps now stop along the shoulder region and will be referred to as shoulder flaps. The shoulder flaps on the bib now have two loop fastener strips (one on each side) placed vertically underneath the shoulder flap. The bib then attaches to a garment that has two hook strips (one on each side) placed horizontally along the shoulder region. There is also an attachment along the chest area of the bib in which the loop fastener is positioned horizontally on the reverse side of the bib in the center, approximately an inch from bottom of chest flap. The bib design system can pair with onesies, any shirt, dresses and outer apparel. This system is made to be fashionable and color coordinated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The current invention relates to a bib system in which the bib and garment attaches along the shoulder region to reduce neck injury in children due to pulling and tugging when attempting to rip the bib off. The purpose of this system is to create a drool barrier for children going through the teething phase. When the child's bib becomes soaked in saliva, it becomes cold after the saliva hits the air and sits for a while. Once the bib brushes against the child's chin and face, it makes the child uncomfortable which causes the child to want to pull the bib off. Also, teething in general causes children to tug on their bib and pull it off because teething causes irritability. Although this bib is created as a drool barrier to prevent teething infants and toddlers from pulling it off, this bib can be used for feedings as well. This system comes in all sizes and it also works for adolescents and adults that are disabled and need feeding assistance.

1. Description of Prior Art

The prior art represented by U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,151 showed that inventor Finell created a design in which the bib would be attached to the upper pockets of the shirt along the front shoulder region. The fasteners used in this patent are male and female snaps. This design would only work on shirts that have shoulder folds that create a pocket for bib to attach.

The prior art represented by U.S. Pat. No. 7,409,729 showed that the inventors Baham et al created a shirt bib design that attaches to sleepers via snap fasteners to prevent SIDS in infants. The sleepers attached at four points (back of neck, shoulders, chest) and the inventors mainly focused on male and female snap fasteners for the invention, but stated any fastener could be used in place of the snaps and that it did not matter where snap attachments were arranged. BibMates design reduces a choking hazard by using only hook and loop fasteners because snaps may get loose and fall off or either bitten off by an older child once teeth come in. BibMates are also designed to have hook side of the fastener specifically on garments and loop side specifically on bib to reduce injury. Placing hook side on bibs can cause such injury by leaving scratches on the child or even breaking the skin of the child if he or she is successful in removing the bib from the garment.

The prior art represented by U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,247 showed that the inventors Frieswick et al created a system in which the bib attached to a special made garment via two shoulder slits on each shoulder. The bib would then be looped through the slits and folded down to snap into place. Children tend to be very active so when switching out bibs the process should be quick. BibMates design has hook and loop attachments for a simple press and go. Furthermore, the slits in this invention can possibly stretch and tear over time. The heavy duty hook and loop attachments for BibMates are sewn by sewing machine for long lasting wear, however, if the attachments need to be replaced, new strips can simply be sewn onto garments and bibs.

The prior art represented by U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,269 showed that the inventors Smith et al created a system in which the bib attached to the garment at five points around the front of the shirt collar only. This design uses hook and loop fasteners. BibMates also uses hook and loop fasteners in three areas, both shoulders and lower chest area for a simple press and go. The chest attachment is essential to the BibMates design so that the bib stays in place at all times.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This bib system was created for teething babies and toddlers that have a habit of pulling off their bibs when it becomes wet or when the child gets irritable. This bib has shoulder flaps that stop along shoulder region. This bib was created to reduce the likelihood of neck injuries such as choking, scarring, raw or chapped skin, and bleeding. If the child does succeed in pulling the bib off, the bib would come straight off without restraint unlike the common bibs with neck fasteners in the back.

This bib also creates a drool barrier so that garments remain dry during usage. Once bibs are soaked, they can easily be changed out to another bib while keeping on the same garment. This system prevents multiple clothing changes throughout the day. This system is meant to be fashionable where bibs match the shirt. For example, a solid black shirt would come in a pack with two or more bibs that have black and white patterns in stripes, polka dots, and chevrons. If the shirt is patterned with red, white, and blue the matching bibs in pack would be solid consisting of one red, one white, and one blue. Although BibMates will come with multiple bibs in a pack, single bibs will be made available as well.

EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows embodiment of bib system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows embodiment of the garment part of the system for a onesie. The left picture is the front view which has one horizontal hook strip in the lower chest region. The right picture is the back view which has two horizontal hook strips (one on each shoulder).

FIG. 3 shows embodiment of the garment part of the system for a t-shirt. The left picture is the front view which has one horizontal hook strip in the lower chest region. The right picture is the back view which has two horizontal hook strips (one on each shoulder).

FIG. 4A shows embodiment of the bib part of the system using a round shaped bib. The left picture is a view of the front of the bib. The right picture is a view of the back of the bib which has two vertical loop strips, one underneath each shoulder flap, and one horizontal loop strip underneath the chest flap. The horizontal loop strip is positioned about an inch from the bottom of the bib.

FIG. 4B shows the same embodiment of the bib part of the system as FIG. 4A, but the bib in FIG. 4B is rectangular/square shaped.

FIG. 4C shows the embodiment of the bib part of the system using a triangular/bandana bib shape with vertical loop strips underneath each shoulder flap only. The picture on the left is the front view and the picture on the right is the back view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Further description of the embodiments of the BibMates garment system for the present invention will be described below. The parts are labeled with numbers that will be used throughout description to describe each part's function to create the system.

FIG. 1 shows an infant/toddler wearing the BibMates bib and garment system. Garment 2 is the child's t-shirt with the bib 1 connected to horizontal hook attachments along shoulder region 5 on both shoulders and one horizontal hook attachment in chest region which is not labeled but is positioned directly under loop attachment 4 on bib to create the attachment at the chest. Bib 1 has a vertical loop attachment 3 underneath the bib on each shoulder flap which makes the bib adjustable. The vertical loop attachments 3 allow for adjustments to be made to the one size fits all bib design. The shoulder flaps can be moved up or down for the perfect fit along the child's shoulders.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show where the two horizontal hook attachments 5 are located on the onesies and t-shirts along the shoulder region and the horizontal hook attachment 6 located on the garment in the chest region. The hook attachments will be located in the same region with all BibMates designs and any garment can be used with this system. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 also show horizontal hook attachment 5 positioned on the back of shirt behind the shoulder seam of shirt but horizontal hook attachment can be placed horizontally in any position relative to that area (front or back of shoulder seam).

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show where the two vertical loop attachments 3 are located on the bib underneath each shoulder flap along the shoulder region and the vertical loop attachment 4 is located on bib in the chest region. The loop attachments are positioned vertically to make bib adjustable for garment. FIG. A represents a round bib and FIG. B represents a rectangular/square bib.

FIG. 4C shows where the two vertical loop attachments 3 are located on the bib underneath each shoulder flap along the shoulder region only. The loop attachments are positioned vertically to make the bib adjustable for garment. FIG. C represents a triangular/bandana bib. 

1. A bib and shirt system that is made specifically to attach to one another in three areas (shoulders and chest) with sewn heavy duty hook and loop fasteners although any fastener with male and female parts can be used for this design.
 2. The set of clothing in claim 1, wherein the bib is made with vertical loop fastener strips (referring to only the loop side of the hook and loop attachments) on shoulder flaps located on the reverse side of the bib which makes the bib adjustable.
 3. The set of clothing in claim 1, wherein the bib is made with shorter collar flaps that stop along the shoulder region.
 4. The set of clothing in claim 1, wherein the system has a specific location for hook and loop attachments respectively.
 5. The hooks will be placed on each shoulder and chest section of garment and the loops will be placed behind each shoulder flap and the chest flap of the bib.
 6. The set of clothing in claim 1, wherein the system has only hook and loop attachments made to pair shirts with bibs.
 7. The set of clothing in claim 1, wherein the bibs will be made of various bib materials including water-resistant material.
 8. The set of clothing in claim 1, wherein the bibs will be made fashionably and coordinated to match the garments.
 9. In reference to claim 7, wherein the bibs and garments will be custom made to fasten together and bibs will come in sets of two or more with similar colors and patterns to keep outfit matching once the bib has to be replaced. BibMates was created as a safety precaution for children that do not recognize their own strength by reducing the likelihood of neck injury. It also was created to make bib swap outs easier. Children can keep on same clothing and parents can do less laundry loads. 